Extravagant Luxuries Yet More Extravagant.

EXTRAVAGANT LUXURIES YET MORE EXTRAVAGANT .

\\/ HEN we penned our remarks of last week , as to " * the excessive number of votes now required to carry a case for the Masonic Educational Institutions , and quoted the totals polled at the recent election of the Girls School , we thought the case was bad enough ,

but the corresponding election for " Our Boys " goes far and away beyond , and if we could only view with alarm the position as we knew it last week , what are we to say now that the returns for the companion Charity are before us ?

The election for the Boys School took place on Friday of last week , seventeen lads being admitted , from a list of thirty-four candidates . The first on the list of successful polled 7 , 3 8 9 votes (!) , the eight

succeeding ones had each a record of upwards of 6 , 000 , the remainder 5 , 000 odd each , while 5 , 107 polled on behalf of another lad only placed him at the head of the unsuccessful . It is true there was then a drop to

3 , 846 votes , but even that immense number is more than 50 per cent , beyond what should be necessary to win a scholarship . As evidence that these records were not unexpected

we may point to the West Yorkshire candidates , which came in third and fifth among the successful , both being first applications . No one would accuse West Yorkshire of wasting votes , and so the totals of 6 , 453

and 6 , 365 may be accepted as criterions of what was expected . In face of such figures is it to be wondered at that some think they are paying too much for the luxuries of Masonic education . The fact is coming

home to Brethren , slowly perhaps , but surely , else why does the Charity Secretary of the important Province we have mentioned say in his report , " The position of

West Yorkshire with respect to the London Charities is not altogether so satisfactory as it should be . " Further comment may be left for further developments .

The retiring First Principal of the Bertha Chapter Comp . Horatio Ward P . G . Sw . B . has been presented with a handsome massive silver bowl , richly chased , in recognition of his services as one of the founders and continous supporter during the past thirty-one years of the Chapter .

The installation meeting of the Metropolitan Lodge , No . I 5 ° 7 ) was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , on Wednesday , when Bro . E . E . Hawkins was elevated to the Mastership . A report will appear next week .

The consecration of the Richard Eve Lodge , No . 2772 , will take place on Saturday next , 28 th inst ., at Freemasons ' Hall , London , at s' ^ o p . m . We hope to report the proceedings in due course .

A meeting of the Alliance Lodge will take place on Wednesday , 8 th prox ., when Dr . E . Clarke will be installed as Master , in succession to Bro . Baron de Bush .

Consecration.

CONSECRATION .

- : o :- , - ,-1 : ? v-MARLOW LODGE . ON Wednesday , the nth inst ., this new Lodge was consecrated at Marlow . The ceremony was conducted by Bro . John Evan Bowen Deputy Provincial Grand Master Buckinghamshire , he being assisted by Bros . J . C . Fitzroy Tower Prov . S . G . W .. William Woollett Prov . G . Sec , Rev .

Canon J . Studholme Brownrigg , M . A ,, P . G . Chaplain , Joseph Bliss P . P . S . G . W ., and Charles L . Carson Prov . G . Pursuivant . The installation of the first W . M . of the Lodge Bro . Henry Hambling followed in due course , and among the

Officers appointed and invested were Bro . G . W . S . Kendall as S . W ., and Bro . W . T . Porter as J . W . At the subsequent banquet , held at the Crown Hotel , there was a large attendance .

R. M. I. Boys.

R . M . I . BOYS .

npHE Quarterly Court of Subscribers to this Institution JL was held on Friday of last week , at Freemasons ' Tavern , Bro . Charles E . Keyser , High Sheriff of Berkshire , Past Grand Deacon Treasurer and Patron of the Institution in the chair .

In the name and on behalf of the Board of Management Bro . A . C . Spaull P . G . St . B . presented to Bro . Keyser a memento of the 101 st Anniversary Festival of the School held last June , and over which Bro . Keyser presided , the

difficulty of the position then being that he voluntarily immediately followed the Prince of Wales's chairmanship of the Centenary Festival , when £ 140 , 000 was collected . Bro . Keyser ' s chairmanship realised £ 0 , 000 .

After acknowledging the presentation , which was succeeded by some other business of the School , Brother Keyser gave an account of the progress which was being made with the Schools now being built at Bushey , the first stone of which is to be laid by the Duke of Connaught next

May . He informed the Brethren that not only had the foundations been prepared , but that ' so much advance would have been made with the superstructure when the ceremony of May igoo took place , that the visitors , of whom he hoped a great number would be present , would be able to see a great part of the building .

The election of seventeen sons of Freemasons for education in the School was afterwards proceeded with , the highest successful polling 7 , 389 votes , and the lowest of them 5 , 157 . Fifteen of the elected were first application cases . IT will be remembered that at the local examination in Musical Knowledge , conducted in June last , by Trinity

College , London , five boys passed in the Junior Division ( three with honours ) , and one in the Intermediate Examination . The last named was William Denis Coales , aged thirteen and a half years . He has now been awarded a special prize , being first of all the boys and girls at the two

examinations of the London centre under the age of nineteen , and having gained ninety-five per cent , of the possible marks , a result which is not only very creditable to the lad himself , but a distinct testimony to the efficient and careful training he receives at the Institution at Wood Green .

R. M. I. Girls.

R . M . I . GIRLS .

IN accordance with a kindly custom that has prevailed at the Mansion House for some years past , about 150